Three Decades of Women’s Empowerment: United WE Signature Event features Groundbreaking Speakers

KANSAS CITY, MO – September 30, 2021 – Through a uniquely hybrid in-person and online format, United WE presented We Work for Change 2021, a celebration of equity, diversity, and 30 years of empowering women on September 29. 

Hosted at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts and through a virtual livestream, attendees included political leaders from across state and party lines like Kansas Governor Laura Kelly and Missouri United States Senator Roy Blunt. 

“Congratulations to United WE for 30 years of empowering women and working for change across Kansas and Missouri. Your research and policy solutions have made a lasting difference for thousands of women,” said Governor Laura Kelly. “United WE has been an important partner for my administration on women’s issues, and a voice and resource for women across Kansas and beyond.”

The event program featured virtual speaker Mellody Hobson, a nationally-recognized voice on financial literacy. Named by Time Magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential People in the world, Hobson serves as Chair of Starbucks, the only Black woman to lead the board of directors for an S&P 500 company. She is also the co-founder of Ariel Investments. 

“I’m focused on women – particularly people of color – being brave. I think that fear keeps us from realizing our potential,” said Mellody Hobson. “So many people are held back by fear, and life is not living with an absence of fear, but courage is overcoming it.”

Attendees also heard from in-person speaker Tiffany Dufu, Founder & CEO of The Cru, a peer coaching platform for women. Dufu’s book, Drop the Ball, provides a manifesto for women to learn to let go. Dufu spoke with United We’s President & CEO Wendy Doyle and event chair Mary Jane Judy in a fireside chat, with some questions asked by local youth attendees.

“I think it’s important for us to recognize that there are many different ways to add to the ecosystem of empowering women. It wouldn’t be feasible for all of us to be on a Fortune 500 board or to have seats in Congress,” said Tiffany Dufu. “What’s important is we all need to support one another. We all need each other.”

Formerly known as the Women’s Foundation, this year’s event was particularly impactful for the organization as it marked the celebration of 30 years of empowering women. Formerly known as the Women’s Foundation, United WE was incorporated in 1991 to help address the unmet needs of women and girls in Kansas City. Today, the organization’s strategic investments and passionate work have resulted in work across seven states, including 20 impactful research studies, 39 meaningful policy actions, and 162 women appointed to civic leadership positions through the Appointments Project®. 

United WE unveiled a 30th anniversary video encapsulating milestones from the past three decades, celebrating the women —and men— who said yes to creating meaningful change in their communities. Several of those bold and trailblazing leaders were at the event and featured in the video, available here. 

In addition to celebration, the signature We Work for Change Event raised more than $670,000 to support the United WE mission and programs, including the commission of transformative research, support for barrier-removing policy reforms, advocating for the legacies of women, and more. 

Join United WE in creating meaningful change for all women and learn more at www.united-we.org.

Progress in 30 Years & Plans for the Future

I am in disbelief that we are already approaching the end of 2021. As I pause and reflect on the year so far I can’t help but acknowledge the hardships, the progress and the opportunities that lie ahead. Despite the heaviness in our world, I’m fueled by the thousands of lives United WE is impacting and the trail we are blazing for the future.  

In our 30th year, our work is focused on creating meaningful change through strategic research and systems change initiatives. Though we continue to face uphill battles for gender equity, we have taken important steps forward.

Today I see that there is hope for women and families with recent advancements in occupational licensing  policies like House Bill 2021. We are continually focused on striving for better support for veteran families. We are currently gathering real-time feedback from women across Missouri through our Town Halls initiative to better understand economic development gaps and opportunities. And throughout this year we’ve supported several new women appointees to leadership positions in their communities. I feel encouraged by these moments of dialogue and progress, and as we celebrate 30 years as an organization this year, I am optimistic about how we will continue to shape the future for women, their families, and the next generations of females. 

Now is an important time for women in leadership throughout the country, with nine women serving as state governors. Historically, almost 40% of states have never had a female governor. My hope for the future? Not only will we see females holding leadership positions in all states, but we will have a national paid family leave policy that acknowledges working parents, and also see a female holding the top government position: President of the United States. 

Image via Statista

I wrote earlier this year about the goals for the future of our organization as we celebrate 30 years of supporting women in our communities and throughout the country. In addition to occupational licensing, paid family leave, veterans, and women in civic leadership, we also plan to continue investing in research that shapes our initiatives, with a large statewide effort in Kansas beginning early next year. We’re also continuing our Legacy of Women initiative to honor trailblazing historical women in their communities. 

And speaking of trailblazing women, I am immensely grateful to the women who came before our current United WE team to shape our organization over the past three decades. If you haven’t visited the new History page on our website, I encourage you to revisit our story, and view videos from some of our inspiring leaders including Past Board Chair Sherri Wattenbarger, Chair of the Board Joan Ruff, Advisory Board Member Debby Ballard, and Past Board Chair Linda Doolin Ward. These women inspire me with their grace, grit and passion for elevating women and girls, and I will continue doing my part to further the mission and success of our organization into the future. 

I’d like to end by thanking the speakers, civic leaders, sponsors, and guests who joined us on September 29 at We Work for Change. We celebrated equity, diversity, representation, passion and 30 years as an organization. Stay tuned for a recap of this incredible event, and mark your calendar to join us in 2022.

United we will demolish today’s gendered barriers, opening up a more equitable and better world for all.

Kindly, 

Wendy D. Doyle, President & CEO

Appointee Profile: Denise Ryerkerk

Denise Y. Ryerkerk, AIA, was recently appointed to the Jackson County Plan Commission.  Denise is a registered architect with over 30 years experience, primarily in the federal public sector. Her project management experience includes major systems and tenant renovations, historic preservation, disaster recovery, sustainability, and security and blast upgrades.  Her current focus is on project planning and development,  process improvement, building accessibility, and coordinating design reviews.  She holds a Bachelor of Architecture and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Iowa State University, and a Masters of Architecture in Management from the University of Kansas.  She is married with a teenage daughter.

Appointee Profile: Emily Cramer

“After attending some networking events with the Appointments Project, I knew I had to apply.  I was recently appointed to the Roeland Park Community Engagement and Racial Equity committees and am so excited to play a more active role in these spaces.”

— Emily Cramer

Emily Cramer was appointed to the Roeland Park Community Engagement and the Racial Equity Committees.  As a Senior Specialist, Culture & Development at a legal tech company, Emily supports corporate training and professional development programs.  She loves helping colleagues discover and capitalize on their strengths, which ensures they bring their best selves to work each and every day.  She also works part-time for KCSourceLink, a local entrepreneurial support organization that is dedicated to helping entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses in Kansas City. About a year and a half ago, Emily moved to Roeland Park and absolutely fell in love with the tight-knit community.

Paid Parental Leave Expands to More State Employees in Kansas

Thousands of additional state employees will benefit from paid parental leave, as the Judicial Branch and Board of Regents have updated their paid family leave policies.

Both of the policies reflect the Governor’s executive order with the following changes:

• The Judicial Branch altered its paid parental leave policy to eight weeks for both parents (instead of four weeks for the secondary parent).

• The Board of Regents require their employees to be employed for 12 months to be eligible (instead of 180 days).

“Our research has shown that paid family leave is a win-win for families, employers, and the economy — so we’re thrilled that more state employees will have access to this family-friendly benefit,” said Wendy Doyle, President & CEO of United WE. “We look forward to continuing to work with legislators to pass paid family leave laws and urge other states without paid family leave policies to consider the research-backed benefits that support employees and their families.”

Expanding access to paid leave has been a top priority of the United WE, formerly Women’s Foundation, which works with Kansas leaders to provide research on the benefits of paid family leave.

More information on United WE’s research into paid family leave is available at: https://united-we.org/paid-leave.

Press Release: United WE’s Appointments Project® Announces Expansion to Austin, Texas

Mayor Pro Tem Harper-Madison, Council Member Alter, Mayor Adler and United WE announce their collaborative partnership to increase the number of women on local civic boards and commissions through the Appointments Project. Started in 2014, the Appointments Project has successfully placed more than 160 women on boards and commissions, including 18% women of color.

“I’ve seen first-hand the need to have more women and women of color in leadership positions across the City,” Mayor Pro Tem Harper Madison said. “I’m absolutely excited to call others into service in this partnership to ensure that we’re drawing on the talents and diversity of all our residents.”

“My own experience serving on the Parks Board inspired my run for office,” said Council Member Alter. “As a super majority female council, we work to create opportunities for women in our community to lead. Through the Appointments Project, I hope we chart even more pathways for female leadership and service.”

“Our partnership with United WE and the Appointments Project is strengthening our city by increasing the number of women of all ages, including women of color, who are at the decision-making table for Austin,” said Mayor Adler.

United WE’s Appointments Project serves as a talent bank, advisor and advocate for women seeking opportunities to lead their communities and works to attract diverse applicants for appointed positions on boards and commissions. The award-winning approach guides women through the process of applying for these positions and suggests applicants for appointment.

Read the full press release here.

From Our President & CEO: A Reflection on 20 Years Since the September 11 Attacks

This year, we acknowledge that two decades have passed since an extremely dark time in our nation’s history. Following the attacks on September 11, 2001, first responders and frontline workers bore much of the brunt of the destruction impact and recovery efforts. Many of those heroes have faced a new challenge over the past two years with the widespread devastation of COVID-19. As time has passed and we have seen the tireless bravery of the frontline healthcare workers, emergency responders, hospital staff, and countless others who have faced our nation’s challenges head-on, I want to express my gratitude for their sacrifice, grace and courage.

At United WE, we make a concentrated effort to acknowledge the struggles of frontline, veteran and survivor families. We know that our work cannot replace the grief felt by the families impacted by events like September 11th or COVID-19, but we do know that policies and programs can help share the burden.

Today our policy efforts are concentrated on improving conditions for families, and we are proud of the progress we have made in Kansas and Missouri to acknowledge the service members who put their lives on the line, and their families who make great sacrifices from home. We advocate for and support programs that invest in these families’ ability to fully participate in the workforce as a small tribute to those who choose to serve their communities. 

One key piece of our work is focused on education, and we have supported bills and expansions that provide the children and spouses of veterans or first responders killed or injured in the line of duty with the opportunity to pursue higher education without the burden of tuition or debt. We also advocate for occupational licensing reciprocity, knowing that women are often disproportionately affected by state-to-state regulations for service licenses and occupations. We applaud and thank leaders like Missouri Governor Mike Parson and Kansas Governor Laura Kelly for sharing our commitment to advocating for veterans and their families. 

Our support of this legislation is based on objective research findings. United WE, formerly Women’s Foundation, conducted a “Project Diane” study that focused on the integration of women into leadership positions in the U.S. Army Special Forces. Additionally, “The Status of Women in Kansas” research report focused on economic development indicators and developed a baseline to monitor Kansas’ progress to advance women’s economic and civic leadership.

I want to share a few highlights from our recent and upcoming work: 

• The Veterans & Survivors Grant Program in Missouri 

  • This grant was enacted to provide support to children and spouses of veterans impacted while serving in action. 

• The Veteran & First Responders Program in Kansas 

• HB 2021: adds to the Wartime Veteran and First Responder Survivors’ Educational Opportunities

  • This important legislation furthers our mission to advance all women’s economic leadership by expanding an education fund for spouses and family members of individuals that died, and now includes individuals injured in the line of duty. It allows for up to $350,000 to be awarded per year. 

• Ahead of the 20th anniversary of 9/11 next month, I will participate in a press conference with Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple to share how we need more legislation like HB 2021 that benefits the families of wartime veterans and first responder survivors, and reflects Kansas’ ongoing commitment to military families, higher education and workforce development opportunities.

We are pleased with this progress, and know that advocating for veteran families is an ongoing priority as our world continues to evolve and new challenges surface. As we observe the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks and continue to battle the coronavirus, I ask you to remember those who put their lives on the line amid these tragedies. How are you supporting the veterans, survivors and families in your community? I invite you to learn more about our work here, and share the opportunity of this education benefit with the families of wartime veterans and first responder survivors. 

Thank you to the women and men who serve our country. Your bravery, compassion and dedication are what make us proud to be Americans. 

Kindly,

Wendy D. Doyle, President & CEO

Associated Press: 9 women now serving as governors in US, tying a record

August 24, 2021

An Associated Press article on August 24, 2021 detailed that nine women are now serving as governor in the United States. This tied previous annual records, but is still far from gender parity in government positions.

The article includes commentary from our President & CEO Wendy Doyle, who noted that one challenge is deepening the pool of women willing to enter politics. Our policy work at United WE includes the Appointments Project, our strategic program focused on providing the tools and resources for women to seek appointments at the county, city and state levels across multiple states. As Wendy, “It’s a long game. But we’ve got to build the pipeline; we’ve got to build the bench.”

Check out the full article from reporter David Lieb below.

Appointee Profile: Teresa Coyan

Teresa Coyan was appointed by Missouri Governor Mike Parson to Chair the Missouri Mental Health Commission. Teresa moved to the Springfield area in 2003 to attend Missouri State University where she received a bachelor’s degree in Business Management with an emphasis in entrepreneurship (2005). Shortly after, she completed a MBA through Webster University. In 2008, Teresa began her career at CoxHealth and has had enjoyed several roles throughout her 13 years with the organization. Currently, serving as Vice President of Public Affairs, she is the liaison between CoxHealth and local, state, and federal elected officials, business leaders, and the Southwest Missouri Communities we serve. Teresa is also active in a variety of community organizations, which include serving as the Chair of the Legislative Policy Committee for the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, a member of the United WE. Public Policy Coalition, board member for the Foundation for Springfield Public Schools, and board member for the Missouri Chamber. Recently, Teresa was appointed by Governor Parson to serve as a Commissioner for the Department of Mental Health.  She was a graduate of Leadership Springfield (class 27) and previously served as a board member for the Board of Public Utilities and the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce. Teresa has been married for 15 years to her husband, Justin and they have two children, Connor (7) and Kinley (5).

Appointee Profile: Susan B. Wilson

Susan B. Wilson was appointed to the Jackson County, Missouri Mid-Continent Public Library Board.  Susan B. Wilson PhD MBA is a licensed clinical psychologist with a multifaceted career in education, healthcare administration, consulting, clinical and media work. She currently serves as principal of Wilson and Associates, an organization that focuses on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), training, program development and consulting. Wilson retired recently from the role of Vice Chancellor of the Division of Diversity and Inclusion. In this chief diversity officer role, she led a diversity organizational development strategy including diversity and inclusion assessment, planning and initiatives for students, faculty, and staff and community.  

Wilson has over twenty years of mental health and diversity-related experience. She previously served as Associate Dean for Diversity and Community Partnership at UMKC School of Medicine. For the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC), Wilson was the Central Region’s representative for the Group on Diversity and Inclusion (GDI). She also developed a diversity training program for mid and upper management for the Central Region of the Federal Aviation Administration. During a time of racial tension, she was a consultant to four local school district superintendents to assess the diversity climate and offer training and recommendations.  Wilson has also provided training and diversity consultation to many business and government organizations, and served on the Mayor’s Human Rights Commission.

Wilson attended the University of Pittsburgh, where she earned a B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. in clinical psychology and an M.B.A. from the Bloch School of Business at UMKC. Wilson has held leadership positions in several notable health and behavioral healthcare organizations in the Kansas City area, including Swope Health Services and St. Luke’s Health System. She has also served as a consulting psychologist to the National Football League and the Kansas City Chiefs and a host and contributor of a news, culture and arts radio magazine show for KCUR 89.3 FM, the Kansas City affiliate of NPR. 

An avid reader, Wilson credits libraries as serving as a “life line” and a sanctuary while growing up in the Hill District of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania.  Wilson is also an avid enthusiast of the arts. She is an art collector, and a frequent theatre and concert-goer as well as a financial supporter of the arts.

A 2018 winner of the Kansas City Chamber of Commerce ACE Award for Diversity and Inclusion, Wilson has contributed her time and skills to numerous civic and community endeavors. Some highlights include the Jackson County COMBAT Commission, Missouri Department of Mental Health Cultural Competency Committee, and the Statewide African American Mental Health Taskforce.  She is a former member of the Healthcare Foundation of Greater Kansas City and is Chair of the Prime Health Board. She also serves on the Kansas City Crime Commission. Wilson is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and the Links, Inc., both public service organizations.